Adopt an Animal proceeds fund the Conservancy’s live animal exhibits within our Interpretive Center. Your adoption ensures our year-long residents receive the best care possible, and help us maintain our public Animal Feeding Day once a month. Animals available for adoption are listed below, click on an animal to find out more about them!

Your donation of $25 helps feed and care for the many types of animals who call the Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s interpretive center their home.

Adoptable Species of The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Coastal Rosy BoaLichanura trivirgata

This species is usually active during dawn, dusk, night, and early morning. Most of the time, you can see Rosy, Medusa, and Bobo moving around in the mornings. Unfortunately, the Rosy Boa is extirpated (locally extinct) from the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, but you can still see this species inside our interpretative center.

Please Donate and Support the Coastal Rosy Boa at Bolsa Chica Conservancy.

California King SnakeLampropeltis getula californiae

We have two Kingsnakes in our exhibits - Victoria and Yo-Yo. Victoria has the dominant color variation (banded), and Yo-Yo has a more recessive, predominantly black color variation. They are active in the daytime during cooler weather and are active at dawn and dusk during warmer temperatures.

Please Donate and Support the California King Snake at Bolsa Chica Conservancy.

San Diego Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer annectens

Commonly seen near the trails at the Wetlands, they are seen a lot especially during the spring (males that are searching for a mate) and during the fall (when there are hatchlings). Their coloration is tan, light brown, or yellowish, with large brown and black rounded blotches along their back and smaller ones on their sides. Grump and DanN are our two resident gopher snakes.

Please Donate and Support the San Diego Gopher Snake at Bolsa Chica Conservancy.

Two-Stripped Garter SnakeThamnophis hammondii

The Gartersnake at our interpretative center, Twitch, is very tough and has a lot of attitude! They are mainly an aquatic species and eat primarily small fish.

Please Donate and Support the Two-Stripped Garter Snake at Bolsa Chica Conservancy.

Southern Alligator LizardElgaria multicarinata

We have two of these guys in our exhibits! They are pretty shy, but you can see them lying underneath their tunnels. When threatened, they can detach their tail to distract a potential predator while they escape! Their tails can regenerate, but do not look the same as their original.

Please Donate and Support the Southern Alligator Lizard at Bolsa Chica Conservancy

Marine Aninals

We have a variety of marine animals in our aquarium, including a California Spiny Lobster, bat stars, ochre sea stars, striped shore crabs, and sea snails!

Please Donate and Support the Marine Aninals at Bolsa Chica Conservancy.